Low tech is just as important and vital as high tech. But what is it? Find out here. #AACuser #AAC #AACawarenessMonth #Communication #LowTechAAC open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

Keyboards are important for getting the best AAC setup. #AAC #AACuser #AACawarenessMonth #Communication open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

I use AAC in all areas of my life, but people often forget that. #AAC #AACuser #AACawarenessMonth #Communication

Hear AAC users. #AAC #AACuser #AACawarenessMonth #Communication

Getting started with AAC #AAC #AACuser #AACawarenessMonth open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

Eye gaze. #AAC #AACuser #AACawarenessMonth #Communication #EyeGaze open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

#AACawarenessMonth Do’s and don’t’s regarding AAC #AAC #AACuser open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

Trying to navigate the world as an asexual, non binary trans man, who is disabled, neurodivergent and severely mentally ill, is exhausting. So often people don’t want people like me to exist.

Today has been super hard. Just trying to distract myself. Write some more of my #AACawarenessMonth blogs to then schedule to post them at a later date this month.

As a full time AAC user when my device has a bit of a breakdown it’s more than just an inconvenience. It’s my communication. Yes I have some back ups but it’s not the same as my actual device. #AAC #AACuser #Communication

#AACawarenessMonth #AAC #AACuser #Communication B is for being heard (or not) open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

Often get scared to say what my autistic special interests are. As people then ask you questions and expect you to know everything about said interest. Because of my ADHD, and my schizophrenia, OCD and CPTSD I struggle to take part in learning about my interests as much as a lot of other autistics

Being sectioned isn’t funny and shouldn’t be used as a cheap way for people to get a laugh. #Sectioned #Trauma #MentalHealthAct #NotYourJoke open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

It’s #AACawarenesMonth and I’m writing 26 blogs to share over the month. Do you have any questions about AAC? Anything at all. No questions are silly questions. #AACuser #AAC

A is for AAC this #AACawarenessMonth I’m going to post a piece on each letter of the alphabet over October. #AAC #AACuser #Communication open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

A thread 🧵 About my experience of using eye gaze as a part time eye gaze user a d full time AAC user. 1/ #AAC #EyeGaze

The stuff people say to me as a visibly disabled person #Disabled #Tourettes #WheelchairUser #AACuser #Neurodivergent open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

A poem I wrote a while back. #Tourettes #Tics #Disabled #Neurodivergent #Poet #Poetry #Poem #DisabledPoet open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

a post about a religious delusion I had. Content warnings on the top of the article. #Substack #Schizophrenia #Schizophrenic #Psychosis #Disabled #Neurodivergent open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

Apparently I can’t be an atheist because I’ve had religious delusions. 🙄 Not quite how it works haha.

Using #AAC to communicate is just as valid and important to mouth words. Neither is superior but please stop insisting that mouth words are best and should be the goal. For me using AAC has meant I can join in more with groups and order my own food. AAC has helped me to join in with society.

When my tics respond pissed off to another of my tics! I keep ticcing the noise kids make when doing a fast car impression. And then straight after tic “Fuck off” in a really annoyed and hacked off way. #Tourettes #Tics

Being schizophrenic doesn't make me evil. Yet the way you treat me is medieval. Delusions, paranoia and voices. You see these are not my choices. And this is why my life is a state of upheaval. #Poem #Poetry #Poet #Schizophrenia #Schizophrenic

Representation matters so bloody much. #LGBTQIA #Disabled #Neurodivergent #SeverelyMentallyIll #WheelchairUser #AACuser

I write about being asexual, a non binary trans man, wheelchair user and AAC user. Schizophrenic, autistic, ADHD, Tourette’s, complex PTSD, OCD etc is because I didn’t have any representation growing up. And I try to be just a little bit of representation for others. And to help reduce stigma etc.

Psychosis isn’t just on or off I have chronic psychosis as a schizophrenic person. Daily hallucinations, paranoia, delusions. I have some insight in these episodes that varies Acute psychosis for me is zero to minimal insight with the same above symptoms. #Schizophrenia #Schizophrenic #Psychosis

People who think that AAC will send people backwards in their communication really have no understanding how freeing using AAC can be. I can now communicate in ways I never could with mouth words. I’m 35 and can now order at a restaurant. AAC is freeing #AACuser #AAC #Communication

open.substack.com/pub/thetudor... I wrote about how I have made colouring more accessible for me with tics, a tremor and pain. #Substack #Colouring #Disabled #Neurodivergent #Tourettes

A poem over the course of a thread. 🧵 “The stigma is rife” By Oliver Waite. “There is a word. That others have definitely heard. Yet they hide it away. Too ashamed to say.” 1/8

Trying to challenge myself with my poetry. I’m now trying to do more rhyming within my poems. And also tentatively trying to make my poems a bit more metaphorical but still writing about factual and real things. Currently writing a poem about schizophrenia. #Poetry #Poet

When people ask me “Why do you use a wheelchair?” And when my answer is “Tourette’s” People (including medical professionals) are often shocked and confused by this answer. Some get it once explained. Some really don’t. Let me explain for you 1/ #Tourettes #WheelchairUser

When people ask me “Why do you use a wheelchair?” And when my answer is “Tourette’s” People (including medical professionals) are often shocked and confused by this answer. Some get it once explained. Some really don’t. Let me explain for you 1/ #Tourettes #WheelchairUser

Hello I’m Oliver (he/him) I’m an asexual non binary trans man. Disabled, including neurodivergent, including severely mentally ill. Full time wheelchair user due to Tourette’s. Full time AAC user due to Tourette’s, autism and schizophrenia.

Delusions don’t equal my thoughts or beliefs. Intrusive thoughts don’t equal my thoughts or beiiefs. Hallucinations don’t equal my thoughts or beliefs. Vocal tics don’t equal my thoughts and beliefs. Motor tics don’t equal my thoughts and beliefs Can’t believe I have to keep repeating this

Main thing I’ve noticed since reducing lithium medication is my insomnia is back. I didn’t realise it was the lithium sending me to sleep within around half an hour of taking it. Now I can’t sleep. But I’ve not noticed any other concerning withdrawals.

I’ve written about my experiences of both acute psychosis and chronic psychosis. #Substack #Schizophrenia #Schizophrenic #Psychosis open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

I remembered the word to describe what I’m feeling is ‘anhedonia’ A common negative symptom of schizophrenia. It sucks. Really sucks. I wish I could enjoy things and feel the enjoyment and interest. But nope. Just been staring at walls and screens trying to find some feelings. But nope.

Emptiness is a horrible feeling. Just staring blankly at the screen hoping for just something to help the even a second. Just one notification to give that moment from the soul destroying experience of emptiness

Ive started to use Substack to share longer writings and poetry. Come join me there. I am also going to start posting more here too. open.substack.com/pub/thetudor...

I brought a couple of flat caps today. I like them a lot.

Honestly I used to be very much pro theatre etiquette. Mean two years in a row at the Proms I stood still for so long my blood pooled and I fainted. Now I very much want to dismantle theatre etiquette. As someone with Tourette’s with constant vocal tics and other disabilities.

A short poem about hearing voices. “The voices in my head. They really want me dead. They battle and shout. Just want to get out. And I'm just full of dread.” #Poem #Poet #Poetry #HearingVoices #Schizophrenia #Psychosis

So my psych has agreed to let me reduce and eventually come off lithium. I was dropped from 900-600mg about 6 weeks ago. And now my psych is reducing by 100mg a month. Rather frustrated that it’s going be a long while to come off it fully.

Bullying 🧵 Bullying is abuse I wish that there was some sort of charity that provided support in terms of groups and social groups and therapy for victims of childhood and adolescence school bullying. 1/ #Bullying

A poem about being bullied. “Bullied for being a freak. They all knew I was a geek. They never had any regrets. Even gave me constant death threats. And now everything is just bleak.” #Bullying #Poem #Poet #Poetry

Contacted the CMHT to ask them to liaise with my psychiatrist to fully come off lithium. Looking back what I thought were manic episodes were actually what I think as schizophrenic episodes with underlying ADHD. I hope the will reduce via email contact rather than making me do face to face.

A short poem about schizophrenia. “Being schizophrenic doesn't make me evil. Yet the way you treat me is medieval. Delusions, paranoia and voices. You see these are not my choices. And this is why my life is a state of upheaval.” #Poet #Poetry #CreativeWriting #Schizophrenia

It would currently seem that the only symptom of reducing my lithium dose, is insomnia. I just cannot switch off! Not had insomnia as bad as this for a while. #Insomnia #Lithium

Trying to start pacing. From a neurodivergent (including severely mentally ill) perspective. I just don’t know how and what to prioritise and how to pace things. #Schizophrenia #ComplexPTSD #Autistic #Tourettes #Neurodivergent #WheelchairUser #AACuser #ADHD

This is also very true for delusions as well. Mean I’ve had a delusion where I believed I was a nazi and trust me I’m not a nazi. And another delusion where I was Gods chosen one. But nope I’m an atheist.